WR Greens Meeting Notes 2017-10-05

Waterloo Region Greens Meeting

Held

Thursday, 5 October 2017

Present

Matt Piggott, Betsy Daub, Teresa Cornwell, Sam Nabi, Marie Bridel, David Weber, Stacey Danckert, Cathe Campbell, Laurel Russwurm, Bob Jonkman.

• Sam and Julia volunteer to be the Volunteer Co-ordinators during the 2018 Ontario Provincial election campaign
  • Finding debate partners to accompany candidates
  • Door knockers
  • Phone callers

• How much time is needed to call an Annual General Meeting for a Constituents Association?
  • Need to appoint a Returning Officer at the AGM before holding Nomination Meeting
  • Amy Watson from GPO can help; will be CFO for candidate nominees who have no expenses

• Waterloo and Kitchener Centre are having their Nomination Meetings
  • When: Sunday, 22 October 2017 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm
  • Where: Central Branch, Kitchener Public Library
  • Location: 85 Queen Street North, Kitchener, Ontario Map
  • Both Waterloo and Kitchener Centre already have candidate nominees

• Kitchener South--Hespeler has new volunteers on their executive
  • KSH is planning an AGM
    • Bang Bui on EDA
    • Ryan Eagleson on CA

• Did You Know: There is no residency requirement to be a member of an Electoral District Association (Federal) or Constituency Association (Provincial)?

• BC Greens hold the "Balance of Responsibilities" (not "Balance of Power")
  • The BC Referendum on Electoral Reform has a good question
    • Referendum will allow mail-in responses -- good for serious thought on the question, and improved response
    • Referendum will pass with a regular majority (50% + 1), unlike the BC 2005 referendum requiring a super-majority (60% overall, with simple majority in 60% of districts)

• We have high hopes for Guelph:
  • If Mike Schreiner (GPO Leader) is elected in Guelph, it bodes well for neighbouring ridings in Waterloo Region
  • Long-term plans...
    • Even if WR elects no Green Party candidates this election, we will do well next (2022) election if Guelph does well

• Game plan for 2018 Ontario Provincial election:
  • Election day is Thursday, 7 June 2018.
  • Guelph Greens are already knocking on doors; raising issues, not electioneering.
    • Water taking permits.
    • Ontario Hydro: Nuclear review -- Greens advocate no nuclear power, use Quebec hydro generated electricity until Ontario builds its own renewable energy sources.
  • Issues we can address in Waterloo Region:
    • "Toll roads pay for transit" -- makes tolls more palatable when it's realized it will improve communter transit.
    • Housing strategy: WR is planning only 300 low-cost housing places over the next 5 years?
    • Phase 2 LRT: When does Cambridge get their transit? Provincial portion of funding.
    • GO Transit to Cambridge? Has been an election promise from other parties for over 15 years.
    • Highway 7 extension: Has been an election promise from other parties for over 15 years; better to use existing route and improve transit.
    • High Speed Rail: Another election promise from other parties.